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Roenick Hangs Up His Skates

San Jose Sharks forward Jeremy Roenick today formally announced his retirement from the game of hockey, following 20 remarkable seasons in the National Hockey League.

Roenick, 39, crafted a legacy as not only one of the best U.S.-born players to skate in the NHL but one of the all-time top players to ever play the game. He leaves ranked 36th on the NHL’s all-time goals list with 513, 48th on the all-time assist list (703) and tied for 39th on the NHL’s all-time points list (1,216). Among U.S.-born players, he’s third in goals, points and sixth in assists. He also ranks fourth in all-time games played by a U.S.-born player.

“I am not only happy but proud of the 20-year career that I have had in the National Hockey League,” said Roenick. “To end my career on my terms was very important to me and I must thank Doug Wilson and the San Jose Sharks organization for providing me that opportunity.

“I also want to thank all of the teams and players that I have been associated with for making my career much more exciting than I could have ever dreamt.”

In his two seasons as a member of the San Jose Sharks organization, Roenick notched some of the most memorable milestones of his NHL career, including his unforgettable 500th NHL goal on Nov. 10, 2007 vs. Phoenix. He also skated in his 1,300th NHL game on Feb. 9, 2008 at Nashville, posted his 1,200th career point on March 28, 2008 at Anaheim and collected his 700th NHL assist on Feb. 21, 2009 vs. Atlanta.

In 2007-08, Roenick finished eighth on the team with 33 points (14-19=33) in 69 games. His 10 game-winning goals (2nd-NHL) and three shootout winners led the team and his combined 12 game-deciding goals led the League. He also authored a “Cinderella story”-like performance in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Calgary Flames. After sitting out Game Six, he dominated in the deciding game at HP Pavilion, netting four points (2-2=4) in one of the most inspiring performances in Sharks franchise history.

In 2008-09, Roenick suffered two separate shoulder injuries, allowing him to play in only 42 games on the Presidents’ Trophy winning club, posting 13 points (4-9=13).

“Jeremy Roenick will be remembered as one of the most dynamic players to ever play in the NHL,” said Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson. “The level of passion he brought to the ice in his final game was just as high as the first time he laced up his skates over 20 years ago. We thank him for his contributions to the San Jose Sharks organization on- and off-the-ice over the last two seasons and for all he has given to the game of hockey. I know he will be successful in whatever ventures he pursues in the future and am sure those ventures will be numerous.”

The former first round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in 1988 (8th overall) played in 1,363 NHL games with Chicago, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Jose, ranking 39th all-time on the NHL’s games played list.

The nine-time NHL All-Star is the only player in League history to lead his team in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes in two different seasons (1999-00, 2000-01 with Phoenix).

In his six career Game Seven’s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Roenick has six goals, tying him for second-most in NHL history, along with Wayne Gretzky, Wendell Clark and Trevor Linden. Only Glenn Anderson (seven) has more.

Roenick also established a tremendous career representing Team USA on the International stage. He was a member of the U.S. teams at the 1998 and 2002 (silver medal) Olympic Games, 1992 Canada Cup, World Championships (1991, runner-up) and World Junior Championships (1988 and 1989).

The only thing that could match Roenick’s appeal on the ice was his image off the ice. Known as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors, Roenick is beloved by fans for his leave-it-all-on-the-ice mentality and his willingness to sign autographs or spend a few minutes chatting. Members of the media knew “JR” was their go-to guy win, lose or otherwise. Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Roenick was one of the few NHL players to transcend their personality to mediums outside the hockey and sporting worlds, including pursuing an acting career, launching a successful fashion line, Muze Clothing, and his own website www.roenicklife.com

He was immortalized in the world of pop-culture in the 1996 movie “Swingers,” which featured the character of Trent, played by Vince Vaughn, pummeling his friend at SEGA’s NHL ‘94 video game, saying, ”It’s not even so much me as it is Roenick, he’s good.”